The European disability movement is deeply disappointed with the Finnish government’s plans to cut structural funding for organisations of persons with disabilities, completely eliminating much-needed advocacy and legal support for over 580.000 Finnish people with disabilities. It is not only undermining disability rights but also an alarming advance in Finland’s path of democratic backsliding and ongoing authoritarian tendencies which we unfortunately witness in more and more countries
The government intends to cut 30% of the funding for organisations of persons with disabilities, and notably, to completely strip their power to advocate and advise persons with disabilities. This will lead to all disability-related advisory services ending next year.
Finland used to be a leader in disability rights. If these plans go ahead, it risks sinking to the bottom of the rankings.
The latest European semester country report already asserted worrying statistics:
- 33% of the children of families where at least one parent has a disability are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This is well above the EU average of 24%.
- 24,3% of young people with disabilities are unemployed.
- The gap in employment between persons with and without disabilities is 20.4 percentage points.
The lack of structural funding for organisations of persons with disabilities and of support for advocacy and advisory activities means the government will not have the input necessary to address this trend. It also means that further actions to erode the rights of their citizens with disabilities will go unchecked. It will leave over 580,000 people vulnerable and without access to help to support their rights.
It will also undermine Finland’s responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it has ratified. Representative organisations of persons with disabilities are essential for meaningful consultation under Article 4.3 of the Convention. Removing their ability to advocate and advise effectively weakens democratic participation and the capacity of government to develop policies that respond to the realities faced by persons with disabilities.
We call on Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Wille Rydman to reverse these changes:
- Include advocacy and advisory actions in structural funding.
- Strengthen funding for civil society organisations, eliminating both the already made and the planned cuts.
- Guarantee that all decisions are taken in close consultation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities, in accordance with article 4.3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Maija Aatelo, Chair of The Finnish Disability Forum, comments:
It is difficult to understand or agree with the Finnish government’s planned funding cuts, as they will cause multiple growing costs for other public organisations. Just the future 2 000 unemployed personnel costs shall eat the savings in real life.
Public health organisations have placed extensive emphasis on the fact that they have no employees or financial resources to cover the lost work organised by disability organisations. The Finnish Disability Forum and Finnish disability organisations are flexible, adaptive and efficient – The government should use more, not less funding to promote their valued and needed work. That would lead to real savings for the whole nation.
Veera Florica-Rajala, Executive Director of Treshold Association, a Finnish organisation of persons with disabilities, said:
These policy decisions mean that all disability-related advisory services would end next year. In practice, this would mean that parents who have just had a child with a disability, as well as employed persons with disabilities, would no longer receive support in finding solutions to the challenges they face in their daily lives.
In addition, disability organisations would be stripped of their ability to influence public policy. We would no longer be able to engage in dialogue with ministries and other public authorities on legislative reforms and broader policy development. As a result, we could no longer contribute our expertise to preparedness planning or help ensure the delivery of effective services that support people’s well-being.
If next year’s planned cuts go ahead, funding for social welfare and healthcare organisations will have been reduced by 50% in just three years.
Gunta Anca, President of the European Disability Forum, stated:
Finland has long been recognised as a country that values equality, human rights and participation. We are deeply concerned by measures that would silence the very organisations that make these values a reality for persons with disabilities. Nothing about us without us is not merely a slogan – it is a legal obligation and a cornerstone of democratic decision-making.
Catherine Naughton, Executive Director of the European Disability Forum, added:
Cutting funding and denying oversight from civil society is one of the most important signals that a country is becoming authoritarian. We are very sad that Finland is choosing this path. Finland has been a world leader in the past, not only in ensuring the rights of its own citizens but in supporting persons with disabilities around the world.
Contacts
André Félix
Communications Manager – European Disability Forum
Maija Aatelo
Chair of Finnish Disability Forum
maija.aatelo@vammaisfoorumi.fi
Veera Florica-Rajala
Executive Director of Treshold Association
veera.florica-rajala@Kynnys.fi
The European Disability Forum is an umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities that defends the interests of 100 million Europeans with disabilities. EDF is a unique platform that brings together representative organisations of persons with disabilities across Europe. It is run by persons with disabilities and their families. EDF is a strong, united voice of persons with disabilities in Europe.
The Finnish Disability Forum is a cooperation organization of Finland’s national disability organizations. FDF promotes the disabled peoples’ constitutional rights and those enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as their social status, well-being and participation opportunities. It represents Finnish disability organizations and disabled people international. Hilma, The Support Center for Disabled Immigrants is a significant part of FDF.
The Treshold Association is a a human rights organization for people with disabilities. Kynnys’ basic activities include diverse activities, including legal advice, courses, education, culture and development cooperation. Peer support, where two people in the same life situation exchange their experiences and advise each other, is central to all our activities.